• Take a drug history: steroids, anticoagulants, carbimazole, phenylbutazone, chloramphenicol, gold salts

• Age (senile purpura)

• History of chronic liver disease

• History of mouth ulcers (severe neutropenia).

• Small circumscribed bleeding into the skin, purpura, or larger lesions, bruises or ecchymoses (Fig. 151.1). Lesions begin as 1–3 mm papules, which increase in size and become palpable. They may coalesce to form plaques; in some instances, they may ulcerate.

• Look for an underlying cause

• Comment on the patient’s age: consider senile purpura

• Comment on the distribution: Henoch-Schönlein purpura is seen over the buttocks and lower limbs (p. 566)

• Look for the following signs:

Stay updated, free articles. Join our Telegram channel

Join